Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Canadian Employers Expect Respectable Hiring Pace to Continue in the Fourth Quarter of 2012

TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian employers expect the hiring climate to remain respectable for the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, the most extensive, forward-looking employment survey in the world.

With seasonal variations removed from the data, the Net Employment Outlook of 10 per cent is a slight decrease when compared to the Outlook reported in the previous quarter. This Outlook is also a three percentage point drop from the Outlook reported during the same time last year. However, results for the fourth quarter do represent one of the more modest employer forecasts in more than two years.

The survey of nearly 1,900 Canadian employers reveals that 16 per cent of them plan to increase their payrolls in the fourth quarter of 2012, while seven per cent anticipate cutbacks. Of those surveyed, 75 per cent of employers expect to maintain their current staffing levels while two per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions for the upcoming quarter.

"Job seekers in all regions are likely to benefit from a positive hiring climate from October through December, with employers in Western Canada reporting the most upbeat Outlook," says Byrne Luft, Vice President of Operations, Staffing Services for Manpower Canada. "Although regional Outlooks have experienced moderate decreases compared to the previous quarter, job seekers should maintain confidence in the labour market as employers throughout Canada anticipate the hiring pace will remain steady through the autumn. Most of the new jobs created in Canada this year have been full-time, high paying positions. Many of the job reductions have come from part-time employment. This movement from part-time to full-time employment is an encouraging sign."

Mining

Employers in the Mining sector anticipate an upbeat fourth quarter in 2012, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 18 per cent. This is a five percentage point reduction from the Outlook reported in the previous quarter. The Outlook is respectable, with a moderate decrease from the Outlook reported during the same time last year. ManpowerGroup research reveals that employers in the Mining sector have reported the strongest forecasts in six of the last seven quarters.

Transportation & Public Utilities

Employers forecast a favourable hiring climate, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 15 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2012. This quarter's Outlook is a three percentage point decrease from the forecast reported for the previous quarter; it is also a five percentage point decrease from the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

Employers report a Net Employment Outlook of nine per cent for the fourth quarter of 2012, indicating a cautiously optimistic hiring climate. This Outlook is a moderate decrease from the forecast of 14 per cent, which was reported for the previous quarter, and is a decrease of three percentage points when compared to the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Wholesale & Retail Trade

In the Wholesale & Retail Trade industry sector, employers anticipate a hopeful hiring climate, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent. This quarter's forecast is unchanged from both the previous quarter's forecast and the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Manufacturing - Durables

With a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent, employers in the Manufacturing - Durables sector anticipate a favourable hiring climate for job seekers. This Outlook remains unchanged when compared to the prior quarter's forecast but it is a five percentage point decrease when compared to the Outlook reported in the same quarter last year.

Services

In the Services sector, employers anticipate a steady hiring climate for the fourth quarter of 2012, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 12 per cent. This forecast is on par with the Outlook from the previous quarter and the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Construction

Reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 14 per cent, employers in the Construction sector anticipate an upbeat hiring climate for the upcoming quarter. This forecast is a moderate increase when compared to the Outlook of nine per cent reported during the previous quarter and a slight increase over the Outlook of 11 per cent reported during the same time last year.

Public Administration

In the Public Administration industry sector, employers anticipate a fair hiring environment for the fourth quarter of 2012, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent. This is unchanged compared to the previous quarter when employers reported a seasonally adjusted Outlook of eight per cent. However, it is a six percentage point decrease when compared to the same period last year.

Manufacturing - Non-Durables

In the Manufacturing - Non-Durables industry sector, employers report a Net Employment Outlook of five per cent indicating a mild hiring climate for the fourth quarter of 2012. Employer hiring intentions are relatively stable when compared to the previous quarter, when employers reported an Outlook of four per cent. It is also an eight percentage point drop from the Outlook reported during the same time last year.

Education, Public & Private

Employers report a Net Employment Outlook of six per cent, indicating a modest hiring climate for the upcoming three-month period. This quarter's Outlook is a moderate increase from the previous quarter when sector employers reported an Outlook of one per cent, and a one percentage point decrease from the Outlook reported last year during the same time.

Regional Hiring Intentions Generally Upbeat

"Regionally, employers in Western Canada anticipate the strongest hiring climate for the upcoming quarter," adds Luft. "The data indicates employers expect a favourable environment for job seekers, reporting a Net Employment Outlook of 18 per cent. The Outlook for this region is due in part to the healthy hiring forecast reported by employers in the construction and mining sectors. In Alberta, demand for skilled tradespeople such as carpenters and ironworkers has been very strong. This has led the federal government to agree to relax requirements for employing migrant workers. This continuing demand may factor into the optimistic Outlook. In Quebec and Atlantic Canada employers anticipate an upbeat hiring climate for the upcoming quarter, reporting Net Employment Outlooks of 13 and 12 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, employers in Ontario project a modest fourth quarter with a Net Employment Outlook of eight per cent. Some new manufacturing and national resources projects are likely to add substantially to employment in Ontario. These prospective gains are offset by large-scale workforce reductions expected elsewhere within the province. In part because of these conflicting movements employers anticipate an Outlook of conservative growth in the region this quarter."

SOURCE: Manpower Inc.

John Settino
The iPR Group
416.850.2524
[email protected]